Leeds Allotments Federation
Recent News
Apply to Leeds Council for funding.
Self-managed allotment sites in Leeds can now apply to a Community Committee fund skip hire. You can email them for the application pack. Then, read through Frequently Asked Questions, and fill in the Small Grant Application Form. It is not too difficult, and and once you have the money you can arrange with the skip company exactly when and where you want the skip delivered and picked up.
Misleading labels on fruit and veg
Some supermarket fruit and veg may look like they were grown in Britain, but that is not always true, according to an article in the BBC.
Of course, if you have and allotment you know where your fruit and veg come from!
For neglected or overgrown trees.
Winter is the time to prune neglected or overgrown apple and pear trees. Here is some simple advice from the RHS.
With LAF Secretary, Rosie.
The Yorkshire Post did a piece about Allotment Week . It is a good feature on the benefits of allotments and gardening in general, with nice photos of our LAF Secretary Rosie and some wise words most of us would agree with.
Development as flats blocked.
Park Road Allotments in London saved from development into flats.
“1950s to current day” show garden
Leeds Allotments Federation have created a “1950s to current day” show garden. It won a Premier Gold Award!
And a video
Many crops ruined by allium leaf miner.
There is a lot of damage to allium crops (leeks, onions, garlic, etc) this year from allium leaf miners. They have been active in Leeds since at least 2020, but this is the first time I have heard of so many growers pulling up their whole crops and disposing of them. More information here.
Monbiot on soil and the future of food growing.
Here is an article by George Monbiot on soil, and how we might nurture it to keep producing food in years to come.
A guide to gardening without pesticides
The Pesticide Action Network has produced a useful guide to gardening without pesticides. The link for the download is about 2/3 of the way down the page.
A safe and effective slug bait?
A researcher in America has found a highly effective, non-toxic and cheap slug bait. Is this what we have been looking for all these years? Why not try it and see? (But what is the best way of getting rid of the slugs once you catch them?)
Well, the first time I tried it the rats ate the bread dough before the slugs found it. I’ll try again with wire mesh to stop the rats.
